Pluie Named a Top Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
October 18, 2023
“America’s Top Small Business Awards” celebrate small business innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement
CHICAGO – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced Pluie is one of America’s top 70 small businesses, selected amid an extraordinary year that saw a record-breaking 15,000+ applicants for its annual “America’s Top Small Business” Awards.
Addie Gundry, Founder and CEO, and Brittany Hizer, Cofounder and COO
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce selected America’s top 70 small businesses from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. They were evaluated on their business growth, ability to overcome challenges, smart strategies for success, and community engagement.
Pluie is the world’s first and only self-sanitizing changing table for public restrooms and the first major breakthrough in public changing table design since the product’s inception in the 1980’s. Pluie can now be found in stadiums, airports, amusement parks, and other public facilities large and small in 32 states.
“Innovation and community impact have been at the heart of Pluie since its inception, and we’re so honored to receive this prestigious and competitive recognition as a Top Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” says Pluie Founder and CEO Addie Gundry. “When I founded Pluie, my vision was to make a cleaner, more comfortable, more convenient alternative for ALL parents and caregivers on the go to change their baby’s diapers, and I’m grateful to the public facilities across the country for seeing the critical need for this innovation to protect our most vulnerable. While we may qualify as a small business right now, we have our sights set on improving all 4 million public restrooms nationwide!”
Pluie’s Innovation:
Pluie is the world’s first and only self-sanitizing diaper changing table for public restrooms
Patented UV-C light technology known to kill 99.9% of germs including influenza, coronavirus, and E. coli activates when the table is closed to sanitize the changing surface in just 60 seconds after each use
Multi-purpose handles for hanging diaper bags and purses to keep them off the floor
A more comfortable, plush foam leak-proof changing surface
Retractable safety strap that stores in a clean zone when not in use
The top 70 small businesses receive a one-year paid membership to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and will be prominently featured on the CO— website, a platform that provides practical information and tips to 20,000 business owners daily and over 6 million individuals annually, spanning the United States and the globe.
On October 19, the top 70 small businesses and seven finalists will be recognized and celebrated at the America’s Top Small Business Summit: Ready, Set, Scale at the Chamber’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony following the summit.
Learn more about this year’s top 70 small businesses here.
About Pluie
Established in 2020, Pluie is modernizing the outdated public restroom changing table experience with the world’s first and only self-sanitizing table, powered by a patented UV-C light system. Pluie is committed to Changing the Table® by making sure all parents and caregivers on the go have a clean, comfortable, and convenient option in every public restroom. Pluie is proudly female-founded, WBENC certified, and operated by CEO Addie Gundry and Co-Founder and COO Brittany Hizer. Pluie is made in the USA, headquartered in Chicago, and was named to Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas list and TIME Magazine Best Inventions of 2021. Pluie was named one of the winners of the 21st annual Chicago Innovation Awards in 2022 and was featured on an episode of ABC’s Shark Tank in 2023. For more information, visit www.hellopluie.com and follow @hello_pluie.
